Cattle-guard machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. `J. MCNAUGHTON 8v S. G.. SMITH. CATTLEGUARD MACHINE.

Pm sept. 29, 5396.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheet-Sheet 2.

J. MGNAUGHTON 8u S. G. SMITH. CATTLE GUARD MACHINE.

No. 568,453'. Patented sept. 29, 1.896.v

EIB. E. v

WITNESSES: INVENTORS,

UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MCNAUGIITON AND SAMUEL G. SMITH, OF lVAUKESI-IA, IVISCONSIN,ASSIGNORS TO THE POSITIVE SURFACE CATTLE GUARD COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CATTLE-GUARD MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,453, datedSeptember 29, 1896.

Application filed July 29, 1896. Serial No. 600.874. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that we, JAMES MCNAUGHTON and SAMUEL G. SMITH, of Waukesha,in the county of Vaukesha and State of Wisconsin,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cattle GuardMachines, of which improvement the following is a specification.

The object of our inventionis to provide a 1o simple, durable, andpowerful mechanism by means of which sheets or plates of metal may beformed into what are known as cattleguard sections with uniformity,accuracy,

rapidity, and at slight cost by the action of fluid-pressure uponshaping or bending` dies.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying` drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalcentral section through zo a cattle-guard machine embodying ourinvention; Fig. 2, a transverse section through the same, looking to theleft, at the line x of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a plan view, on an enlargedscale, of the sectional bottom-shaping die;

2 5 Fig. 4, a side view of the same; Fig. 5, a transverse sectionthrough the same at the line y y of Fig. 4c; Fig. 6, a side view inelevation of one of the guide-plates of the same; Fig. 7, an end view ofsaid guide-plate as seen from the left, and Fig. 3 a view in perspectiveof a iinished cattle-guard.

Our invention is designed for the manufacture of cattle-guard sectionsof the general class or type of that set forth in Letters Pat- 3 5 entof the United States No. 489,601, granted and issued to John J.Callaghan and Albro R. Horn under date 0f January 10, 1893, but may beapplied, without variation of structural or operative principle, in theproduc- 'tion of various other forms thereof. The special pattern ofcattle-guard section for the manufacture of which our invention wasdevised is shown in Fig. 8, and consists of a rectangular sheet of metalbent into transverse inclines connected at their tops by flat, and attheir bottoms by curved, portions of the sheet. Prior to our inventionthe sections had been formed by the slow and expensive operation ofbending the sheets into the required form by hand, and power-actuated 5omechanism for the purpose had not been considered practicable, by reasonof the difficulty which was encountered in providing a die capable ofdrawing the stock into the curved portions connecting the lower ends ofthe inclines and releasing itself after operation. Our improvementsuccessfully overcomes this difficulty and enables the 'sheets to berapidly and uniformly bent to the form designed without undue strainupon themetal 6o or cramping of the dies thereon.

In the practice of our invention we provide a substantial bed-plate orhorizontal supporting-frame 1, which is fixed upon a suitable foundation2. A matrix-die 3, the upper surface of which is composed of a series oftransverse inclines connected alternately'by fiat top portions andcurved bottom portions, so as to conform, substantially, to the shapedesired to be given to the sheets of metal 7o from which thecattle-guard sections are to be formed, is fitted to traverselongitudinally on guides 4 on the supporting-frame 1, and is connectedat its forward end to the rod 5 of a piston 6, which is fitted in acylinder 7, fixed horizontally between the side members of the frame, toand from the oppositeends of which cylinder steam or other fluid underpressure -may be admitted and exhausted, when and as required to movethe matrix-die 8o 3 in either direction, by a suitable cock or valve 35.In this instance a central rib or curved projection 3 is formed upon thematriX-die for the purpose of forming a longitudinal corrugation in thecattle-guard section, and it is obvious that a plurality of such ribsmay be provided, if desired. A substantially horizontal transverse face15 is also formed upon the matriX-die for the purpose of producing acorresponding surface 16 on 9o the front end of the cattle-guardsection.

A light frame or table 9 for the reception and support of the 'sheets ofmetal to be Worked by the machine is supported on the mainsupporting-frame 1, at and adjacent to one end thereof, and a verticalframe or housing` 10 is formed upon or fixed to the frame 1, adjacent tothe table 9.

A Huid-pressure cylinder 11 is secured to the vertical frame 10, withit-s axis in a substantially vertical plane, and is fitted with a piston12, to the rod 13 of which is secured a top shaping and clamping die orformer 14, the lower face of which corresponds in form with the flat topportions and the front inclined side of the matrix-die The function ofthe die 1l, in connection with the matrix-die Il, is to form the fiattop portions and the front inclined portions of the cattleguard sectionsand to clamp and hold the sheet while the sectional bottom-shaping die,to be presently described, is forming the remaining portions of thecattle-guard sections. Steam or other fluid under pressure is admittedto and exhausted from the opposite sides of the piston l2 to effect t-heupward and downward movements of the die l-t, as required, by a cock orvalve 17 of any suitable and preferred construction.

A fluid-pressure cylinder 1S is secured to the vertical frame 10, withits axis at substantially the same angle to the line of traverse of thematrix-die 3 as the inclined faces of said die. A piston 10 is fitted inthe cylinder 1S, and the rod 2O of said piston is connected to asectional and expansible bottomshaping die or former 2l 22, by which thecurved bottom portions and the adjoining parts of the inclined portionsof the cattleguard section which have not been acted on hy the die 11are formed. One of the sections 21 of the bottom-shaping die, which isprovided with an angular face 31, conforming with the upper rear cornerportions of the matrix-die S, is rigidly secured to the pistonrod 20,and the other section 22 is jointed to the section 21 by a transversepin 23, passing through lugs on the two sections near their lower endsand coupling them one to the other.

lhe lower ends of the sections 2l and 22 are curved in conformity withthe curved bottom portions of the face of the matrixdie 3, and thesections are longitudinally corrugated in correspondence with theccntral rib 8 of the matrix-die Rectilineal movement of the section 21parallel with the axis of the cylinder is insured by lateralguide-tongues 24, fittinglongitudinalgrooves 25 in guide-plates 2G,secured to the vertical frame lO, and the section 22 is caused to moveparallel to the section 21 (except for a short traverse immediatelypreceding the lower limit of its stroke) by rollers 27, fixed on theends of a transverse shaft 2S, journaled in the section 22 near itsupper end, said rollers fitting grooves 29 in the guide-plates, whichgrooves are parallel with the grooves 25 for the major portion of theirlength and are curved or inclined outwardly therefrom in cam form attheir lower ends. Fixed lateral projections on the section ad, adaptedto engage the grooves 29, may, if desired, be employed and wouldconstitute the mechanical equivalent of the rollers 27, but the latterare preferable in operation by reason of the reduction of friction dueto their use. The movement of the piston 1f) in either direction iseffected and controlled through the intermediation of a suitable cock orvalve 30, by which steam or other fluid under pressure is 4admitted toand exhausted from either end of the cylinder 1S, as required.

rl`he matrix-die 3 is successively locked in position for theforming-dies 14: and 21 22 to operate upon successive portions of thesheet of metal fed into the machine by lockingpins 32, which fitopenings in the side members of the supporting-frame 1 and are engagedwith and disengaged from corresponding openings iu the matrix-die f3 bypivoted hand-levers In the operation of the machine the matrixdie ismoved by the piston (i into such position that the foremost of itstransverse inclines stands immediately below the corresponding face ofthe shaping and clamping die 1t and is locked in said position by thehand-levers 31 and locking-pins A sheet of metal, cut to properdimensions, is placed upon the table 9 and moved thereon until itsforward portion is brought between the dies 1st and 3. The cock or valve17is then moved to admit motive fluid tothe upper side of the piston 12,which, with the connected shaping and clamping die 1-1, makes a downwardstroke in and by which the die 14C bends the forward portion of thesheet into t-he form of the first-inclined face of the matrix-die andthe adjoining top fiat face and lower horizontal face 15 thereof. Thedie 14 is allowed to remain in position against the sheet of metal, soas to clamp and hold the same for the next succeeding operation, to wit,the action of the sectional bottom-forming die 21 22 upon the sheet.This is effected by admitting motive fluid above the piston 19, byproper movement of the cock or valve 30, whereby the sectional die 2l.22 is moved to the lower limit of its traverse, in and by which theportion of the sheet of metal adjoining the first top fiat portion whichhas been formed by the die 14 is bent against the succeeding twoinclined portions and intermediate curved bottom portion of the die Inits downward traverse the die 21 22 draws the metal of the sheet intothe recess of the die bounded by the above-recited portions of the faceof said die and bends the sheet of metal into corresponding form. As thedie 21 22 is driven home, that is to say, for a short period in itstraverse immediately preceding the limit thereof, its lower section 22is moved outwardly toward the adjacent face of the matrix-die 3 by thecam-shaped ends of the guide-groove, 2), thereby expanding the sec- IOOIIO

tional die and drawing the stock behind the finished portion of thecattle-guard section around the nose or lower end of the die untilsufficient has been taken in to conform to the portions of the faces ofthe dies 21, 22, and 3, which then oppositely abut against the sheet. Atthe conclusion of this operation motive fluid is `admitted to the lowersides of the pistons 12 and 19 and exhausted from their upper sides,thus effecting the upward stroke of said pistons and releasing the dies14 and 21 22 from the sheet. The locking-bolts 32 are then released andthe matrix-die 3 moved forward by admitting motive iiuid behind thepiston G until the next succeeding top Jiat portion of the matrix-die 3stands immediately below the corresponding portion of the face of thedie 14. The matrix-die is then locked in such position and theoperations before described of the dies 14 and 21 22 are repeated, andthese operations are continued in the same manner until the sheet isfinished,

' after which the matrix-die is retracted to its original position byadmitting motive iiuid to the right-hand side of the piston 6, and the-machine is in readiness for operation upon another sheet of metal.

It will be obvious that the form and relation of the iiat and curvedsurfaces of the matrix-die and the corresponding faces of theshaping-dies may be varied materially without departure from theessential features of our invention, and ve do not therefore confineourselves to the specific form of said dies herein described and shown.Neither do we limit ourselves to any specific construction of valvemechanism for controlling the movement of the several pistons of themachine, as various types thereof are well known in the art and areapplicable under our invention by a skilled mechanic without variationfrom the essential operative principle thereof.

We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Ina machine for bending sheets of metal, the combination, substantially asset forth, of a matrix-die having a series of transverse inclinesconnected alternately by intermediate top and bottom portions, a shapingand clamping die having a face conforming to the top portions and anadjacent inclined portion of the face of the matrix-die, a sectional andexpansible bottom-forming die having a face conforming to the bottomportions and adjacentinclined portions of the matrix-die, mechanism forimparting longitudinal movement to the matrix-die, and traversing theshaping and clamping die and the bottom-forming die toward and from theface of the matrix-die, and a cam device for expanding the bottomformingdie in the terminal portion of its stroke toward the matrix-die.

tions, an expansible bottom-formin g die, composed of two sectionsjournaled one to the other and having faces conforming to the bottomportion and adjoining inclined portions of the matrix-die, mechanism fortraversing the bottom-forming die toward and from the matrix-die,guides' for maintaining uniform rectilineal movements of one section ofthe bottom-forming die, and similar movements of the other sectionthrough the major portion of its traverse, and a cam device for movingthe latter section, relatively tothe former, adjacent to the terminal ofits traverse toward the matrix-die.

3. In amachine for bending sheets of metal, the combination,substantially as set forth, of two die-sections, each having curved endfaces and flat adjoining longitudinal faces, a pin coupling saidsections adjacent to their end faces, longitudinal guide-tongues on oneof said se ctions,and laterally-projecting members on the other sectionadapted to engage iixed cam-grooves.

4t. 1n a machine for bending sheets of metal, the combination,substantially as set forth, of a matrix-die having a series oftransverse inclines connected alternately by intermediate top and bottomportions, a shaping and clamping die having a face conforming to the topportions and an adjacent inclined portion of the face of the matrix-die,a bottomforming die having a face corresponding to the bottom portionsand adjacent inclined portions of the matrix-die, mechanism forimparting intermittent longitudinal movement to the matrix-die andtraversing the shaping and clamping die and the bottoniforming dietoward and from the face of the matrix-die, and locking devices forsuccessively fixing the matrix-die in position for the action of theshaping and clamping and bottom-forming dies.

I 5. Inamachineforbendingsheets of metal, the combination, substantiallyas set forth, of a supporting-frame, a matrix-die having aseries oftransverse inclines, connected alternately by intermediate top andbottom portions, and fitted to traverse longitudinally on thesupporting-frame, a piston working in a fluid-pressure cylinder andhaving its rod connected to the matrix-die; a shaping and clamping diehaving @face conforming to the top portions and an adjacent inclinedportion of the face of the matrix-die, a piston Working in afluid-pressure cylinder at an angle to the matrix-die, and having itsrod connected -to the shaping and clamping die, a bottom-forming diecomposed of two sections, journaled one to the other and having facesconforming to the bottom portions and adjacent inclined portions of thematrixdie, a piston working in a fluid-pressure cylinder, at an angle tothe matrix-die, and having its rod connected to one of the bottomformingdie-sections, fixed guide-plates having grooves continuously parallelwith the IOO IIO

axis of the piston-rod and grooves parallel other die-section, engagingthe grooves llavtherewth for the major portlon of tllerlength ing@sun-formed end portions.

and having eem-formed portions at their ends JAMES MCNAUGIITON. towardthe matrix-de, guide-tongues on the SAMUEL G. SMITH.

5 die-section fixed to the pistonaod, engaging Witnessesz the groovesContinuously parallel therewith, C. lV. BOOTH,

and laterally-projecting members on the T. K. IRWIN.

